New Award Supports Early Career Investigator of Childhood Digestive Diseases

San Diego – May 11, 2017 – A newly established competitive award is being offered to a promising young investigator interested in developing a research career using genomics to enhance understanding of pediatric digestive diseases.

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) and Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine (RCIGM) have established the AGA-Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine Research Scholar Award in Pediatric Genomics to provide support of $90,000 per year for three years to one investigator. The funded research will be conducted full-time at the RCIGM in San Diego starting in July 2018.

“We are delighted to partner with the AGA in establishing this award to foster career development for a young physician or researcher who shares our vision for translating genomic discovery to advance pediatric medicine,” said David Hale, Board Chair of the RCIGM. “This award demonstrates the Institute’s commitment to research that will lead toward improved prevention and treatment of childhood digestive diseases.”

The award is open to young scientists, medical faculty or research associates who are pursuing independent careers in gastroenterology, hepatology or related areas and hold a full-time faculty position at the time the award appointment begins. The proposed research may be basic, translational or clinical. The award will be administered through the AGA Research Foundation.

“AGA thanks Rady for their partnership and shared commitment to funding promising young investigators conducting innovative research,” said Robert S. Sandler, MD, MPH, AGAF, chair, AGA Research Foundation. “Genomics research offers great potential to enhance our fundamental understand of childhood digestive diseases, and we look forward to pushing this line of research forward through this newly established award.”

Complete information about the award and applications will be available online at www.gastro.org/research-funding. The deadline for submittal is Sept. 8, 2017.

About Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine:

The institute is leading the way in advancing precision healthcare for infants and children through genomic and systems medicine research. Discoveries at the Institute are enabling rapid diagnosis and targeted treatment of critically ill newborns and pediatric patients at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. The vision is to develop an integrated process that can be expanded to deliver precision pediatric medicine at children’s hospitals in California, the nation and the world. Learn more at www.RadyGenomics.org.

About Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego:

Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego is a 551-bed pediatric care facility providing the largest source of comprehensive pediatric medical services in San Diego, Southern Riverside and Imperial counties. Rady Children’s is the only hospital in the San Diego area dedicated exclusively to pediatric healthcare and is the region’s only designated pediatric trauma center. In June 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked Rady Children’s among the best children’s hospitals in the nation in nine pediatric specialties. Rady Children’s is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations to support its mission. For more information, visit www.rchsd.org and find us on Facebook, Twitter and Vimeo.

About the American Gastroenterological Association Institute

The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to more than 16,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization.www.gastro.org.

The AGA Research Foundation, formerly known as the Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition, is the cornerstone of AGA’s effort to expand digestive disease research funding. Since 1984, the AGA, through its foundations, has provided more than $47 million in research grants to more than 870 scientists. The AGA Research Foundation serves as a bridge to the future of research in gastroenterology and hepatology by providing critical funding to advance the careers of young researchers between the end of training and the establishment of credentials that earn National Institutes of Health grants. Learn more about the AGA Research Foundation or make a contribution at www.gastro.org/foundation.